EC asks banks to inform them on huge cash transactions

In a bid to curb money power during
the assembly polls in TN, electoral
authorities have asked banks to inform them about huge cash
transactions and said they would seek IT dept`s
assistance to keep track of cash flow.

Chennai: In a bid to curb money power during
the April 13th Assembly polls in Tamil Nadu, electoral
authorities have asked banks to inform them about huge cash
transactions and said they would seek IT department`s
assistance to keep track of cash flow.

Video Surveillance Teams, Video Viewing Teams and
Accounting Teams would be in place to keep a tab on various
poll-related activities including tracking a candidate`s
expenditure, Chief Electoral Officer Praveen Kumar told
reporters.

Detailing their efforts for the polls, Kumar said, among
others, the Income Tax department`s assistance will be sought
in tracking cash flow. Besides this, banks have been asked to
inform them about "large cash transactions".

He did not however, divulge details on the transaction
range.

This time, candidates have to submit more information
pertaining to their assets such as furnishing information on
dependents and providing their PAN card numbers, he said. A
candidate can spend up to Rs 16 lakh as poll expenditure, he
added.

Kumar said the Election Commission had ordered stoppage
of distribution of free Colour TV sets, a flagship programme
of ruling DMK, as a "pre-emptive" measure to ensure there were
no complaints.

"It is pre-emptive move so that there are no complaints,"
he said.

Answering queries on the matter, he said there cannot be
any more new beneficiaries and such steps would ensure a
"level playing field" for all parties.

To a question on reservation by political parties
including the DMK over the EC`s polling schedule, he said it
was not a Tamil Nadu specific one and the EC had fixed the
date after considering many factors.

While parties are left with just around 15 days for
campaigning, they had also cited exam season and Tamil New
Year festivities while seeking to change the poll date.

He declined to comment on Chief Minister and DMK
president M Karunanidhi slamming the EC for its "hasty"
announcement of the schedule for the elections.